A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tiberias vs. Xi'an for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tiberias or Xi'an?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Tiberias or Xi'an? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Tiberias or Xi'an?

Tiberias

Tiberias is a major tourist destination in Israel. It's positioned on the western side of the Sea of Galilee and is a popular spot for Israeli and international tourists alike. The town itself offers great views of the beautiful blue waters and the surrounding green hills. Tiberias is also considered to be one of the Jewish Four Holy Cities. Many people also use Tiberias as a jumping off point to explore the Golan Heights area.

Xi'an

Xi'an is an ancient city in the Shaanxi Province in China. Today it is most notable as the location of the Terracotta Warriors, but for visitors who choose to linger, there is so much more to see and do in the area. The city itself is more than 3,000 years old and for about one thousand years, through 13 dynasties and 73 emperors, it was the capital. Because of its rich history there are many historical ruins and a strong culture in the city. Today the city is a pleasant place to visit, although much of it's influence and power has dwindled. The city has both cosmopolitan and modern areas as well as historic and culturally rich areas. The neighborhoods are diverse and by exploring the city in depth you can learn a little more about what China really has to offer.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Religious Tours in Israel, The Best Luxury Tours to Israel, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Xi'an or Tiberias?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Tiberias is $137, while the average daily cost in Xi'an is $111. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Tiberias and Xi'an in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tiberias $70
    Xi'an $65
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tiberias $140
    Xi'an $130
Compare Hotels in Tiberias and Xi'an

Looking for a hotel in Tiberias or Xi'an? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Tiberias


Hotels in Xian


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Tiberias Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tiberias $5.79
    Xi'an $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xi'an

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Xi'an:

  • 1-Day Xi'an Layover Tour: Terracotta Army with Round Airport transfers(XIY): $100
  • 1-way Private Transfer: Xi'an City Hotel to Airport/Train Station: $55
  • Essential Xian Tour with Airport Train Station or Hotel Transfer: $229
  • From Xian: Terracotta Army and City Wall Tour with Airport Transfer: $245
  • Full-Day Layover Private Tour: Essence of Xi'an With Airport Transfer: $229
  • Mt. Huashan Private Roundtrip Transfer with Driver's Tickets Help: $113
  • One-Way Airport Transfer From Xi'an Xianyang International Airport to Xi'an Hotel: $75
  • Private 1-way Transfer: Xi'an North Station/Airport to City Hotel: $58
  • Private Airport Transfer: Xi'an Hotel to Xianyang International Airport: $29
  • Private Airport Transfer:Xi'an Xianyang International Airport to Xi'an Hotel: $29
  • Private Arrival Transfer Xi'an Railway Stations to Hotel: $32
  • Private Arrival Transfer:Xi'an Xianyang International Airport(XIY) to City Hotel: $46

Is it cheaper to fly into Tiberias or Xi'an?

Prices for flights to both Xi'an and Tiberias change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Tiberias $61
    Xi'an $23
Typical Food Prices in Tiberias

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tiberias:


  • Lunch for Two
    $6.76
  • Pastry
    $2.37

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Xi'an

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Xi'an.

  • Xi’an:City Wall Multi-Entry or Night Food Tour with Show: $21
  • Xi'An: Tang Dynasty Show Ticket w/ Transfer or Dinner: $33
  • Top 3 Xian Sites to Terracotta Army & Dinner Show w/ Options: $35
  • Xi'an Tang Dynasty Show Ticket Optional Dumplings or Royal Dinner: $37
  • Xian Tang Dynasty Show -Optional Dumpling Dinner or Royal Banquet: $38
  • Tang Dynasty Royal Show Optinal Dinner With Round-trip Transfers: $38
  • Xi'an Tang Dynasty Music Dance Show or Dinner Show with Transfer: $39
  • Xi'an: Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show with Dinner Option: $40
  • Tang Dynasty Dinner Show with Private transfer: $55
  • Xi’an: Market Tour and Cooking Class with Local Family: $59
  • Xi'an Vegetarian Food Tour: $60
  • Xi'an Muslim Quarter Walking Food Tour: $61

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tiberias $13
    Xi'an $38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tiberias

Here are a few typical costs in Tiberias for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Two Bikes for Day
    $41

Tours and Activities in Tiberias

Here are a few actual costs in Tiberias for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Haifa Shore Excursion: Nazareth and the Galilee - for cruise ship guests only: $115
  • Shabbat Experience in Tzfat with Wine Pairing: $160
  • Safed Wine & Cheese Tour: $250
  • Culinary Day Tour of the Galilee: $287

Tours and Activities in Xi'an

Here are a few actual costs in Xi'an for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Xi'an: Daci'en Temple(Great Wild Goose Pagoda) E-ticket: $9.99
  • Xi'an: City Wall & Old Town Walking Tour w/ 10+ Food Tasting: $14
  • Xi’an City Wall – E-Ticket: $15
  • Xi'an: Xi’an City Wall South Gate(Yongningmen) Entry Ticket: $15
  • Xi'an: City Wall Moat Smart Boat Tour: $17
  • Huaqing Palace Tickets with Optional show of Xi'an incident: $19
  • Xian: Terracotta Army Ticket & Guided Bus Tour with Options: $20
  • Morning Tour to Terracotta Warriors Museum with Lunch: $20
  • Huaqing Palace Adult Ticket[Direct Subway Access]: $20
  • Shaanxi History Museum Admission Tickets: $20
  • Private Car Tour to Terra-cotta Army and Xi'an Ctiy Attrations: $22
  • Walking Tour: Giant Wild Goose Pagoda & Great Tang All Day Mall: $23

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tiberias $21
    Xi'an $7.74

Sample the Local Flavors in Xi'an

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Xi'an:

  • Xi'an Bar Crawl: Drink, Gaming, Snacks & Meet with Locals: $29


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tiberias and Xi'an, we can see that Tiberias is more expensive. And not only is Xi'an much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tiberias is in Middle East and Xi'an is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Xi'an would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Xi'an and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Tiberias would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tiberias than you might in Xi'an.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tiberias Expensive? and Is Xi'an Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Tiberias or Xi'an?

Xi'an has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Tiberias. When comparing the sizes of Tiberias and Xi'an, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.